JPH10283449A - Pc card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of any influence on the function of a PC card even when stress centralization is generated in a boundary between an inserting part and a protruding part due to an impact or a load or the like added to a part projecting from a card slot in an extended type PC card. SOLUTION: This PC card 10a is constituted of an inserting part 11 positioned in a card slot 21 in a state that the card 10a is inserted into the card slot 21, and a protruding part 12 protruding from the card slot 21. In this case, an electronic substrate incorporated in the PC card 10a is divided based on a boundary between the inserting part 11 and the protruding part 12, and an electronic substrate 13a at the inserting part 11 side and the electronic substrate 13b at the protruding part 12 side are flexibly connected with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an extended type PC card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of portable information devices such as notebook personal computers, PC cards for expanding the functions of the information devices have been widely used. PC card is PCMCIA (personal computer memory car)
d International association) and the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA), which add memory and communication functions to the information device by inserting it into a card slot provided in the information device. Is what you do.

[0003] Among such PC cards, there is a type called an extended type. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the extended type PC card
Card slot 21 of information equipment 20 such as a notebook computer
When inserted into the card slot, a part thereof is configured to protrude from the card slot 21. That is, the extended type PC card 10 includes an insertion portion 11 that is located in the card slot 21 when inserted into the card slot 21, and a protruding portion 12 that protrudes from the card slot 21.

[0006] The extended type PC card 10 usually has an exterior formed of acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene (ABS) resin or the like. One electronic board 13 having a predetermined function (for example, a memory function or a communication function) is provided. When the PC card 10 is inserted into the card slot 21, the electronic board 13 is electrically connected to the information device 20 by a connector (not shown) provided at an end of the insertion section 11. As a result, in the information device 20, the PC
The function is expanded by inserting the card 10.

[0005]

By the way, in the extended type PC card 10 described above, the protruding portion 12 protrudes from the card slot 21 when it is inserted into the card slot 21. Therefore, when an impact, a load, or the like is applied to the protrusion 12 in the card thickness direction (A direction in the drawing) due to force majeure or the like, the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 1
The stress concentrates on a boundary portion between the PC card 10 and the electronic substrate 13 in the PC card 10. In this case, the possibility that cracks or the like occur in the soldered portion of the mounted component of the electronic substrate 13 due to the bending increases.

As described above, if a crack or the like occurs in the soldered portion of the mounted component of the electronic board 13 due to an impact, load, or the like on the protruding portion 12, the PC card 10 is inserted into the card slot 21 in the information device 20. , The function of the information device 20 cannot be expanded. For example, when the electronic substrate 13 has a memory function, it is conceivable that information once stored cannot be taken out due to an impact, a load, or the like on the protrusion 12. In other words, the conventional extended type PC
The card 10 does not take into account any impact, load, or the like applied to the protrusion 12.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an extended-type PC card that takes into account the impact and load applied to the protruding portion from the card slot and takes into account the impact and load applied to the protruding portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a PC card that does not affect a built-in electronic board.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a PC card devised to achieve the above object, which is used by inserting it into a card slot. And a projecting portion projecting from the card slot, wherein an electronic board built in the PC card is divided at a boundary between the inserting portion and the projecting portion, and The electronic board on the part side and the electronic board on the protruding part side are connected flexibly.

According to the PC card having the above configuration, the electronic board is divided at the boundary between the insertion portion and the protruding portion, and the divided electronic boards are connected flexibly. Even if impact or load is applied to the protruding part in the state of being inserted into the connector, stress is concentrated at the boundary between the inserted part and the protruding part, the stress concentration is absorbed by the flexible connection, and the electronic substrate is bent. Nothing.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A PC card according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] Here, a first embodiment will be described.
The PC card according to the described invention will be described. FIG.
1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a PC card 10a according to the present embodiment. The PC card 10a according to the present embodiment is similar to the conventional PC card (see FIGS.
1 and an extended portion 12.

However, unlike the conventional PC card 10a, the built-in electronic board includes two boards 13a, 13a, 13b, 13b at the boundary between the insertion section 11 and the protruding section 12.
13b. Furthermore, this PC card 10
In a, the board 13a on the insertion section 11 side and the board 13b on the protruding section 12 side are connected by a flat cable 14. That is, the board 13a and the board 13b are flexibly connected by the flat cable 14.

The PC card 10a thus configured
Since it is used by inserting it into a card slot 21 of an information device 20 such as a notebook personal computer in the same manner as a conventional one,
With the card 10a inserted into the card slot 21,
When an impact, a load, or the like is applied to the protruding portion 12 in the card thickness direction (A direction in the drawing), stress concentration occurs at a boundary portion between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12. However, this PC card 1
0a, the built-in boards 13a and 13b are divided into two parts at the boundary between the insertion part 11 and the protruding part 12, and these parts are connected by the flat cable 14, so that the insertion part 11 and the protruding part 12 are connected. Even if stress concentration occurs at the boundary portion between the two, the flat cable 14 absorbs the stress concentration, and the substrates 13a and 13b do not bend.

Therefore, in this PC card 10a,
Even if an impact or a load is applied to the protruding portion 12 in a state where the protruding portion 12 is inserted into the card slot 21, the substrates 13a and 13b do not bend, and cracks or the like occur in the soldered portions of the mounted components of the substrates 13a and 13b. Does not occur.
As a result, even if, for example, an impact, load, or the like at a level at which whitening or cracking occurs on the exterior surface of the PC card 10a is applied to the protruding portion 12, the function of each of the substrates 13a and 13b, that is, the function of the PC card 10a is impaired. Therefore, it is possible to realize a function extension to the information device 20.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a PC card according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described. However,
Here, only the differences from the above-described first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a PC card 1 according to the present embodiment.
It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of Ob. P of the present embodiment
The C card 10b is inserted between the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12
A hinge portion 15 is provided.

The hinge portion 15 includes the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12
And a rotating shaft fitted into these bearings. The protruding portion 12 can be swung with respect to the insertion portion 11 in the card thickness direction (direction B in the drawing). It is to make. However, the hinge portion 15 swings the projecting portion 12 only when a certain impact or load is applied in the card thickness direction, and in other cases, the insertion portion 11 and the projecting portion 12 Is maintained in a predetermined state (for example, a state of being horizontally connected). This may be realized by adjusting the fitting accuracy between the bearing and the rotating shaft.

In the PC card 10b having such a configuration,
When the card 1 is inserted into the card slot 21, an impact, a load, or the like in a card thickness direction (direction A in the drawing) exceeding a certain level is applied to the protrusion 1.
When applied to 2, the projecting portion 12 swings around the rotation axis of the hinge portion 15, thereby absorbing the stress between the insertion portion 11 and the projecting portion 12. Therefore, this PC card 10
In FIG. 2B, the protrusion 1 is inserted into the card slot 21.
Even if an impact, load, or the like is applied to 2, the function of the PC card 10b is not impaired, and the exterior surface of the PC card 10b, that is, the PC card 10b itself is not damaged.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a PC card according to the third aspect of the present invention will be described. However,
Here, only differences from the above-described second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows a PC card 1 according to the present embodiment.
It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of 0c. P of the present embodiment
In the C card 10c, the board 13b in the protrusion 12 is formed of a wireless board, and the hinge 15 between the insertion section 11 and the protrusion 12 has a latch mechanism.

The wireless board is provided with an antenna, a modulator, an amplifier, and the like, and is for performing data communication via a radio wave. The latch mechanism is for fixing the protrusion 12 at an arbitrary swing angle. With such a latch mechanism, in the PC card 10c, the holding state of the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12 can be manually changed in several steps in the swinging direction of the protrusion 12 (C direction in the drawing). It has become. Since the latch mechanism itself is a well-known technique, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

When the PC card 10c having such a configuration is inserted into the card slot 21, the information device 20 can perform data communication via radio waves. By the way, generally, the radio wave condition of a radio wave differs depending on a place. That is, when performing data communication by wireless radio waves, the antenna sensitivity may be reduced depending on the location.

However, if the PC card 10c is used, the swing angle of the protruding portion 12 incorporating the wireless board can be arbitrarily fixed, so that data communication can be performed with the protruding portion 12 fixed at an angle having the best antenna sensitivity. It is possible to perform data transmission and reception as a result. Therefore, this PC card 10c
Thus, in addition to the fact that damage to the function or the main body due to impact, load, or the like does not occur, there is obtained an advantage that it is suitable for use in performing data communication by radio waves.

Fourth Embodiment In the above-described third embodiment, an example in which the antenna sensitivity is improved by changing the swing angle of the protrusion 12 has been described.
Further, giving the degree of freedom to the fixing position of the protruding portion 12 is very effective in improving the antenna sensitivity. here,
A PC card that is more suitable for use in performing data communication by wireless radio waves, that is, a PC card according to the invention of claim 4 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the PC card according to the present embodiment has an insertion portion 11 and a protruding portion 12 which are configured to be detachable. This is because a connection mechanism (not shown) provided between the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12 (for example, the insertion portion 1)
1 and a projection 12). A pair of connectors 16a and 16b are provided between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12, and when the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 are integrally connected, these connectors 16a and 16b are connected to each other. 16b fit each other.
By this fitting, the board 13a in the insertion portion 11 and the board 13b in the protrusion 12 are electrically connected. In addition,
If the connectors 16a and 16b are mounted in a floating manner, the boards 13a and 13b are connected flexibly.

However, in this PC card 10d, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 are separated from each other, the pair of connectors 16a and 16b are connected by a connection cable 16c (for example, a spiral cable). That is, when the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 are separated, the boards 13a and 13b are electrically connected by the connection cable 16c. Also,
In the PC card 10d, as shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 12 is provided with a hook 16d for locking the protrusion 12 on the information device 20, for example, near the display.

In the PC card 10d having such a configuration,
Although it can be used even when the insertion part 11 and the protrusion part 12 are connected integrally, in order to improve the antenna sensitivity, the protrusion part 12 incorporating the wireless board is separated from the insertion part 11 and The connection is made by a connection cable 16c. Then, using the hook portion 16d provided on the protruding portion 12, the protruding portion 12 is locked at a position with good antenna sensitivity near the display of the information device 20, for example.

Thus, in this PC card 10d,
Since the degree of freedom of the fixing position of the protruding portion 12 is increased, it is very effective in improving the antenna sensitivity, and is more suitable for data communication using radio waves. Further, in this PC card 10d, the protruding portion 12 can be separated from the insertion portion 11 and can be locked at an arbitrary position. In this state, the protruding portion 12 does not protrude from the card slot 21 and the protruding portion 12 Is less likely to receive an impact or load.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a PC card according to the fifth aspect of the present invention will be described. However,
Here, only the differences from the above-described first embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 shows a PC card 1 according to the present embodiment.
It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of 0e. P of the present embodiment
The C card 10 e has an insertion portion 11 and a protruding portion 12 connected by an elastic member 17. That is, in the PC card 10e, the exterior (housing) of the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 is formed of a general molding resin such as ABS resin, and the boundary between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 is formed. It is formed by the elastic member 17.

The elastic member 17 is, for example, an elastomer. Elastomer is a polymer material having rubber-like elasticity at room temperature. It deforms when a weak stress is applied, and then returns to its original size and shape when the stress is removed. Specific examples of such an elastomer include natural rubber, various synthetic rubbers, recycled rubber, and acrylic resin. The elastic member 17 between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 may be formed in a bellows shape.

In the PC card 10e configured as described above, when an impact or a load in the card thickness direction (A direction in the drawing) is applied to the projecting portion 12 in a state of being inserted into the card slot 21, the inserting portion 11 The elastic member 17 between the portion 12 and
It absorbs stress concentration due to the impact and load. further,
In this PC card 10e, even when an impact, a load, or the like in a direction orthogonal to the card thickness direction, that is, a card width direction (D direction in the drawing) is applied to the protruding portion 12, the elastic member 1
7 absorbs the stress concentration due to the impact or load. Therefore, in this PC card 10e, the card slot 2
Even if an impact, load, or the like is applied to the protruding portion 12 from any direction in the state of being inserted in the PC 1, the function of the PC card 10e is not impaired, and the PC card 10e itself is not damaged.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a PC card according to the sixth aspect of the present invention will be described. However,
Here, only differences from the above-described fifth embodiment will be described. The PC card 10f of the present embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 8, the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 are connected by an auxiliary connection member 18 laid across the elastic member 17.

The auxiliary connecting member 18 is formed of a rigid member such as a metal bar formed in a U-shape, and an upright portion in the U-shape is provided on the side of the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12. The connection between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 in the insertion direction of the PC card 10f. The auxiliary connecting member 18 can follow the deformation of the elastic member 17 in the card thickness direction (direction A in the drawing), that is, in the vertical direction.

In the PC card 10f configured as described above, when an impact, a load, or the like is applied to the protrusion 12 in the card thickness direction (A direction in the figure), the elastic member 17 between the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12 is formed. Absorbs the stress concentration due to the impact or load, and the auxiliary connecting member 18 follows the deformation in the vertical direction.

The removal of the PC card 10f from the card slot 21 is usually performed by pressing the eject button 22 provided on the information device 20, but at this time, even if the protrusion 12 is pulled messy, Since the auxiliary connecting member 18 connects the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12, the elastic member 17 does not expand or deform more than necessary. The same applies to the case where the PC card 10f is inserted into the card slot 21.

Therefore, in this PC card 10f,
Even if an impact, a load, or the like is applied to the protruding portion 12 in a state where the PC card 10f is inserted into the card slot 21, the function of the PC card 10f is not impaired, and the PC card 10f itself is not damaged. Furthermore, the auxiliary connecting member 18 is
And the protruding portion 12 are connected, so that the PC card 10f
Even if the handling at the time of insertion or removal is messy,
The deformation and breakage of the elastic member 17 can be prevented.

Here, the case where the auxiliary connecting member 18 connects the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 has been described. For example, as shown in FIG. Centering on the fitting point (E direction in the figure)
The auxiliary connecting member 18 may be configured to be rotatable. That is, by changing the position of the auxiliary connecting member 18,
It may be possible to select whether the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 are connected or not. In this way, when the PC card 10 f is inserted into the card slot 21, the flexibility of the elastic member 17 and the P
When the C card 10f is inserted or removed, the rigidity of the auxiliary connecting member 18 can be obtained, and the protection of the PC card 10f main body or functions becomes more effective.

[Seventh Embodiment] Next, a PC card according to the seventh aspect of the present invention will be described. However,
Here, only differences from the above-described sixth embodiment will be described. The PC card 10g of the present embodiment is
As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the auxiliary connecting member 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a pair of connecting members 18a and a built-in spring 18b, and a pair of connecting members 18a and a built-in spring 18b are built in the PC card 10g.

Each of the pair of connecting members 18a is made of a metal, a high-rigidity resin member, or the like, and connects the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 across the elastic member 17. For this purpose, each connecting member 18a is pivotally supported by the insertion part 11 near the end on the insertion part 11 side, and further provided with a tip stopper 18c on the other end side for engaging with the rib 12a in the protruding part 12. Have been. A push button 18d is provided at a part of the end of the insertion section 11 to protrude from the outer surface of the side of the PC card 10g. Accordingly, when the push button 18d is pressed (in the direction F in the drawing), the connecting member 18a is pivoted around the pivot point of the insertion portion 11 when the push button 18d is pressed.
The end on the tip stopper 18c side is in the card width direction (G in the figure).
Direction).

The built-in spring 18b is composed of a leaf spring, a torsion spring, or the like, and urges each of the connecting members 18a swinging in the card width direction toward the outside of the PC card 10g. That is, the built-in spring 18b is
By urging a, the push buttons 18d provided on these are projected from the side outer surface of the PC card 10f.

In the PC card 10g configured as described above, if the PC card 10g is not inserted into the card slot 21, the tip stopper 18c of each connecting member 18a is engaged with the rib 12a in the protrusion 12 by the bias of the built-in spring 18b. Combine.
That is, each connecting member 18 a connects the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 across the elastic member 17. Thereby, the insertion portion 1
1 and the protruding portion 12 obtain rigidity in the vertical and horizontal directions, that is, in the card thickness direction and the card width direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the PC card 10g is inserted into the card slot 21, the push button 18d is pushed into the PC card 10g by the side wall 21a of the card slot 21. When the push button 18d is pressed, the connecting member 18a swings to cause the distal end stopper 18c to move the rib 12a
Break away from Thereby, the connection state by the connection material 18a is released between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12.
Therefore, in the PC card 10g, the flexibility by the elastic member 17 can be obtained by inserting the PC card into the card slot 21.

That is, in the PC card 10g, since the auxiliary connecting member 18 is composed of a pair of connecting members 18a and the built-in spring 18b, when the insertion portion 11 is removed from the card slot 21, each connecting member 18a is connected to the insertion portion 11. When the insertion portion 11 is inserted into the card slot 21 while the projection portion 12 is connected to the projection portion 12, each connecting member 18 a is connected to the insertion portion 11 and the projection portion 1.
2 is released.

Therefore, in this PC card 10g,
In the state of being inserted into the card slot 21, even if an impact or a load is applied to the protruding portion 12 in the card thickness direction (A direction in the drawing) or the card width direction (D direction in the drawing), this is applied to the elastic member 17.
Can be absorbed.

The removal of the PC card 10g from the card slot 21 is usually performed by pressing an eject button 22 provided on the information device 20, and at this time, the PC card 10g pops out of the card slot 21 by a certain amount. Then, the push button 18d is projected from the side outer surface of the PC card 10g by the bias of the built-in spring 18b, and the leading end stopper 18c is engaged with the rib 12a in the projected portion 12. Therefore, the insertion portion 11 and the protrusion 12
Is connected by the connecting member 18a, and rigidity in the vertical and horizontal directions, that is, the card thickness direction and the card width direction is obtained.

Thus, in this PC card 10g,
Whether to connect the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 is automatically switched according to the state of insertion into the card slot 21. Accordingly, the connection state between the insertion portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 can be accurately switched, and the PC card 10g body and the elastic member 17 can be reliably prevented from being damaged. Further, since the switching is performed automatically, it is convenient for the operator who inserts the card into the card slot 21.

[0045]

As described above, in the PC card according to the present invention, the electronic board is divided at the boundary between the insertion portion and the protruding portion, and the divided electronic boards are connected flexibly. Even when stress concentration occurs between the insertion portion and the protruding portion, the electronic substrate does not bend. Therefore, in the PC card, even if an impact or a load is applied to the protruding portion in a state where the PC card is inserted into the card slot, a crack or the like does not occur in the soldered portion of the mounted component of each board. Can be prevented from being impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a PC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a PC card according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the PC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a PC card according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an insertion portion and a protrusion are separated from each other in a PC card according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a use state when performing data communication in a PC card according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a PC card according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a PC card according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an application example of the PC card according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a PC card according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view thereof;
(B) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a PC card according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional extended type PC card.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a conventional extended type PC card is inserted into a card slot.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a to 10g PC card 11 Insertion part 12 Projection part 13a, 13b Board 14 Flat cable 15 Hinge part 16c Connection cable 17 Elastic member 18 Auxiliary connection member 18a Connection material 18b Built-in spring 18c Tip stopper 18d Push button 21 Card slot

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A PC card which is used by being inserted into a card slot, comprising: an insertion portion located in the card slot when inserted into the card slot; and a projecting portion projecting from the card slot. The electronic board incorporated in the PC card is divided at the boundary between the insertion section and the projection section, and the electronic board on the insertion section side and the electronic board on the projection section are connected flexibly. PC card. 2. The PC card according to claim 1, further comprising a hinge between the insertion portion and the projection, the hinge being capable of swinging the projection relative to the insertion portion. 3. The projection has a built-in wireless board for performing wireless communication, and the hinge has a latch mechanism for fixing the projection at an arbitrary swing angle. 3. The PC card according to claim 2, wherein 4. The protruding portion has a built-in wireless board for performing wireless communication, and is configured to be detachable from the insertion portion. When the protruding portion is separated from the insertion portion, 2. The PC card according to claim 1, wherein the wireless board in the protrusion and the electronic board in the insertion section are connected by a connection cable. 5. The PC according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion and the protrusion are connected by an elastic member.
card. 6. The PC card according to claim 5, further comprising an auxiliary connecting member that connects the insertion portion and the protruding portion across the elastic member and is formed by a rigid member. 7. The auxiliary connection member connects the insertion portion and the projection when the insertion portion is inserted into the card slot, and connects the insertion portion and the projection when the insertion portion is removed from the card slot. 7. The PC card according to claim 6, wherein the connection with the PC card is released.